🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Western Europe

London travel guide

Familiar, direct from Lagos, and far bigger than it looks

Written and last reviewed by the Bemer Travels team on 20 August 2026

There are direct flights from Lagos and Abuja, no language barrier, and a large Nigerian community — which is exactly why London gets under-planned. Visitors book a hotel by price, then discover they are 50 minutes and two changes from everywhere they wanted to be.

London is a collection of centres rather than one. This guide is built around that: pick your area first, then your hotel, then your itinerary.

Why visit London

World-class museums with free general admission — the British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, V&A and Natural History Museum all cost nothing to enter.
The best theatre offering in the English-speaking world, with same-week tickets often available well below face value.
Direct flights from Lagos and Abuja, and easy onward rail or short-haul links to Europe.
Genuine variety within an hour: Windsor, Oxford, Cambridge, Brighton and Bath are all day trips.

Best time to visit London

May, June and September give the longest daylight with manageable crowds

Spring (April – June): Parks at their best, long evenings by June, moderate rain. Strong all-round window.
Summer (July – August): Peak crowds and peak hotel rates, but daylight until nearly 21:00 and a full outdoor events calendar.
Autumn (September – October): Our value pick. Warm early September, thinner crowds, theatre season in full swing.
Winter (November – March): Dark by 16:00 and often wet. Christmas markets and lights are genuinely good; January and February are the cheapest weeks of the year.

London rain is persistent rather than heavy. A compact umbrella and a waterproof jacket beat a big coat.

Main attractions in London

British Museum: Free entry, enormous. Two to three hours on a planned route is better than a whole aimless day.
Tower of London: Paid, and worth it for the Crown Jewels and the Yeoman Warder tour. Book online and arrive at opening.
Westminster, Big Ben and the London Eye: All within a short walk of each other — a good half-day loop ending on the South Bank.
South Bank walk: Free and one of the best things in the city: Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge along the river.
West End theatre: Check the TKTS booth in Leicester Square or official same-day releases for discounted seats.
Borough Market: Busy food market near London Bridge. Go on a weekday morning if you want to actually move.
Greenwich: Reachable by river bus, which is the nicest transport in London. Royal Observatory, park views and the Cutty Sark.
Windsor Castle: About an hour by train from Paddington. Half to full day; check that the State Apartments are open on your date.

Where to stay in London

Westminster & South Bank: Most walkable for first-time sightseeing, but limited local dinner scene.
Covent Garden & Soho: Best for theatre and nightlife. Lively and noisy — ask for a room away from the street.
South Kensington: Our usual family recommendation: three major museums walkable, quiet streets, good transport.
King's Cross: Excellent for day trips and Eurostar, strong hotel value, much improved area.
Canary Wharf & Stratford: Cheaper, modern, larger rooms. Fine if you are happy with 20-30 minutes on the Elizabeth line or Jubilee line.

Getting around and airport transfers

Use contactless bank card or phone on tube, bus, DLR and most rail — it applies daily and weekly caps automatically. Buying paper tickets costs noticeably more.
Tap in and out on the tube and rail. On buses you tap in only. Forgetting to tap out charges you the maximum fare.
Heathrow to central London: Elizabeth line (about 30-40 minutes) is the sensible default. Heathrow Express is faster and much more expensive. Gatwick uses the Gatwick Express or Thameslink; Luton and Stansted need a coach or train connection.
Black cabs are metered and reliable; ride-hailing is usually cheaper. Avoid unlicensed cars offering rides outside stations.
Do not rent a car for central London. The Congestion Charge and ULEZ both apply daily, and parking is punishing. Hire a car only for a countryside leg.

Need a vehicle at the other end? Our car rental page explains how driver requirements, deposits and insurance excesses usually work abroad.

Choosing a hotel

Room sizes are small and 'twin' does not mean two doubles. Check bed configuration explicitly when travelling as a family.
Many mid-range hotels quote room-only. Breakfast can add £15-£25 per person per day — the café next door is usually better value.
Zone 1 costs more per night but saves 60-90 minutes of daily travel. For trips of three nights or fewer, central is usually the better economics.
Aparthotels are underrated for families: kitchen, laundry and separate sleeping space for close to hotel money.

We can shortlist properties against your budget and travel dates — see how our hotel booking service works.

Tours and activities worth booking

A hop-on hop-off bus is genuinely useful on day one in London because the sights are spread out.
Book the Tower of London, the London Eye and any Harry Potter Studio Tour weeks ahead — the studio tour sells out furthest in advance.
Walking tours of the City or Westminster add context the free museums do not.
Day trips to Stonehenge and Bath, or Oxford and the Cotswolds, are far easier as a coach tour than by public transport.

Browse London tours and experiences, or tell us what you want to see and we will build the day around it.

Visa information for United Kingdom

Nigerian passport holders need a UK Standard Visitor visa

A UK Standard Visitor visa must be applied for online before travel, with biometrics submitted at a visa application centre in Nigeria. Decision times vary by season and the priority services available at the time of application.

Applications are assessed heavily on the credibility of your travel plan and your finances: consistent bank statements covering the required period, clear evidence of employment or business income, accommodation and flight plans, and reasons to return to Nigeria. Unexplained large deposits are one of the most common reasons applications fail.

We help with itinerary and document preparation, confirmed accommodation and flight reservations, and a clear timeline for the appointment. We cannot influence or guarantee the decision — that rests with UK Visas and Immigration.

How our visa assistance works Travel insurance

Independent agency notice: Bemer Travels is a private travel agency. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government, embassy or immigration authority. Visa approvals are solely at the discretion of the relevant embassy or consulate. Government and visa application fees are paid directly to the relevant authority. See our Disclaimer for details.

Families, couples and solo travellers

First-time visitors: Five nights minimum. Stay Zone 1, buy nothing but contactless travel, and keep one day free for a day trip.
Families: South Kensington or an aparthotel near King's Cross. The free museums plus a park day plus one paid attraction is a sustainable pace.
Couples: Covent Garden or the South Bank, a theatre night, and a Greenwich river trip.
Business travellers: The City or Canary Wharf; the Elizabeth line makes both airport-convenient.

Tips for first-time visitors to London

Stand on the right on escalators. Londoners walk up the left and will say so.
Museums are free to enter but special exhibitions are ticketed and often sold out.
Pharmacies (Boots) handle minor issues cheaply; A&E is for emergencies only and non-residents may be billed.
Sunday transport runs a reduced service and engineering works close lines — check before planning a Sunday around the tube.
Tipping is 10-12.5% in restaurants and often already added as a service charge. Do not tip twice.

Common mistakes to avoid

Booking a cheap hotel in Zone 4 or 5 without checking the actual journey time to where you plan to spend your days.
Buying paper travelcards instead of using contactless caps.
Assuming the Heathrow Express is the only train — it is the most expensive one.
Under-budgeting food. London restaurant prices are higher than most visitors expect.
Leaving the visa application to the last month before travel.

What things typically cost

Mid-range hotel, per night: About £140-£240 in Zone 1, less in autumn and January.
Transport, per day: Contactless daily cap in Zones 1-2 is a fixed amount — usually cheaper than any pass.
Casual meal: £12-£20 per person; pub lunches and market stalls sit at the lower end.
Paid attraction: £25-£40 for the Tower of London or the London Eye; major museums are free.

Indicative planning ranges only. Actual prices move with season, exchange rates and availability — ask us for a current quote for your dates.

FAQs

London travel FAQs

How many days should I spend in London?

Five to seven nights. London rewards a slower pace than Paris or Rome because the sights are further apart.

Is the Oyster card still needed?

No. A contactless bank card or phone gives you the same fares and caps. Oyster is only useful if you have no contactless card.

What is the cheapest month to visit?

Mid-January to late February, excluding half-term week. Hotel rates fall sharply and museums are quiet.

Can I combine London with Europe?

Yes, but the UK is not in the Schengen area, so you would need both a UK visa and a Schengen visa. Plan the timeline for two applications, not one.

Planning a trip to London?

Tell us your dates, budget and who is travelling. We will come back with flight options, a shortlist of hotels that fit, and a realistic visa timeline — no obligation.

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